FG Working To Roll Out New Minimum Wage This Year – Ngige

The Minister of labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has disclosed that in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to see Nigerians enjoy a good life, the new minimum wage should be ready for implementation this year.

He declined to disclose the exact figure been worked upon by the committee on minimum wage but stated that their decisions will be guided by one of the cardinal principle of negotiating wages as stipulated by the International Labour Organisation which is the ability to pay.

Ngige also revealed states with the financial capacity are at liberty to pay their workers above the stipulated minimum wage.

The minister made the revelations while speaking with news men at Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday.

He revealed that the National Committee on minimum wage, had commenced work and would likely conclude its mandate by the third quarter of this year.

He said, “We had our inaugural meeting on December 14 and we did a framework for our work. We will finish our job before the third quarter of this year, but we may finish earlier.

“Minimum wage is a national matter and only the Federal Government can legislate on it. Labour matters and the issue of national minimum wage are in the exclusive list.

“President Buhari is monitoring it strictly, and I am monitoring it too. I wear a double cap as minister of labour, who is the regulator and also as the deputy chairman of the committee.”

“We have state governors; one from each geopolitical zone, five ministers and the Head of Service in the committee. States will key into the new minimum wage when we are done because they are part of it.

“We will fix a minimum wage, but states can pay more than that. I give you an example, today minimum wage is N18,500, but Adams Oshiomhole was paying N25,000 before he left office.

“Minimum wage is just to set the baseline, but states can pay more.”